Katongo made his international debut for Zambia in 2003,[6] and after scoring a hat-trick against South Africa in September 2007, Katongo was promoted in the Zambian Army from corporal to sergeant.[14]

Katongo won the Player of the Tournament during the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, in which he was the captain for the winning side, having beaten Ivory Coast 8–7 on penalties after a goalless match, scoring the first of the penalties himself.[16]